Critical raw materials, technological change, and the Sustainable Development Goals

The realization that a non-trivial number of advanced technologies involved in Industry 4.0 advent rely on inputs of critical raw materials (CRMs) – including the so-called 'conflict minerals' – has led to a growing interest in the impact of technologically induced CRM demand on producing countries. While some high-income (e.g., Australia) and middle-income (e.g., China) economies produce CRMs, many producers are among the poorest and most unstable economies in the world (e.g., Democratic Republic of Congo). These cases highlight the various negative effects of mining activities on environmental, social, economic, health, political, and other areas. This chapter examines the trade-offs between technological progress and development aspirations for diverse African regions, challenging optimistic views of coupling resource-based and knowledge-based development. It finds that to facilitate accountability, transparency, and balanced development, more specific geographical contextualization (localization) and application of frameworks such as the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are needed.